13 June 2019 | Tim Walker
The race for the lucrative Westbred 3YO finals heat up this week, with the running of the Listed Westsired races.
Eight runners will do battle in the colts and geldings division, while five runners have accepted in the fillies race.
Despite the small field, both races look set to provide a fascinating end to the 10 event card.
Theo Aviator is the standout runner in the colts and geldings event, with the Aldo Cortopassi-trained and driven pacer drawing barrier three.
The 3YO Pearl Classic winner finished a meritorious third to Know When To Run last week and shapes up as the clear runner to beat this week.
Cortopassi will use this week’s $25,000 event as the springboard to the Group 1 Westbred Classic next week.
Tellmetoattack looms as the main danger to Theo Aviator this week, with the Andrew De Campo-trained pacer drawing barrier one for his first-up assignment.
The Advance Attack gelding has put together a respectable record of four wins and three placings from 14 starts.
The gelding was unplaced in the 2YO Westsired Pace last year behind Babyface Adda.
Aiden De Campo has the drive this week and said he was hopeful Tellmetoattack could cause Theo Aviator plenty of concern.
“He’s a horse with plenty of ability,” he said.
“He’s caused dad a lot of headaches over the duration of the last two years.
“As he gets older, he keeps getting better.
“He does tend to go fresh and he’s fit enough first-up.
“We will be in front and hopefully he can hold on.”
Babyface Adda is also engaged in this Friday night’s event, but will have to overcome the obstacle of barrier nine.
Chris Lewis has the drive behind the Ross Olivieri-trained pacer.
Lewis also looks set to play a big role in the fillies division, where he teams up with the Barry Howlett-trained My Prayer.
The champion reinsman had the choice between My Prayer and Dont Look, but went with the Barry Howlett-trained filly from barrier two.
My Prayer finished third to Majorpride in the Diamond Classic at her most recent outing and has just Yo Te Amo Haitch drawn inside her.
Lewis has also driven Dont Look at each of her seven careers starts, highlighted by her last start win at Pinjarra on June 3.
Morgan Woodley has the drive behind the John Graham-trained filly this week.
Catch Me Cougar and Joey Girl are the other runners in the field.
Elsewhere, De Campo also teams up with Millwood Molly from barrier one in the TABtouch Giddy Up Premium Form Fillies & Mares Pace (2130m).
De Campo said he was confident the mare could make it three wins in a row.
“She’s racing really well,” he said.
“I reckon she will go really well from barrier one.
“She showed really good gate speed last start and hopefully she can do that again.”
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